Ekahau could be improved by adding three-dimensional modeling, as we currently cannot view APIs in a three-dimensional perspective. They need to include backhaul features and improve the ease of integration with existing systems.
It took me over a week to fine-tune the reports, but they became impossible to use. That’s one of the reasons we started looking at Hemina. I’ve been using Ekahau for quite some time, and when the Sidekick 2 was released, packet analysis wasn’t supported, even though it was included in my subscription. I contacted them for over a year about this issue since packet analysis is essential for my work, but I didn’t receive a response. When I requested support, I was banned from their communications, no invitations for Wi-Fi Day or webinars. If that’s how they treat their partners, it’s clear that our relationship has to change. I'm renewing my subscription for the last year, but I’m not willing to pay two thousand euros anymore. If they can make me a reasonable offer and provide a discount. The customer experience has been poor. I called my distributor, who checked and confirmed that everything was functioning. To troubleshoot, I created a new account under a different name and received an invitation. When I tried registering with my original account, I was blocked because I had contacted customer support about my issues. You can use different software; Ekahau is an option, but look at how they treat their customers.' On the other hand, there’s Hemina. They don’t have spectrum analysis yet, but it’s coming. Technically, the Sidekick is still one of the best devices for checking Wi-Fi. However, there are alternative solutions, and you receive support with those alternatives. For me, the support issue is a significant concern.
Ekahau needs to enhance the view of materials and make some adjustments to the reports. Currently, it's possible to make changes to the Word report using Python, but it could be improved. For example, when I create an AP on a survey report, information like the cable view, distance, and support assessments could be enhanced. Only one comment about Ekahau Optimizer. It needs improvement. I tried to upload site products, and for five products, I needed to involve Ekahau's supply chain. When I try to solve that, it's not possible. For example, I uploaded one product for a large bank, and the optimizer didn't finish. I needed to involve Ekahau support, and they sent me the file two or three days after I opened the case.
We were able to recover some access points in some areas that were over-saturated. There were at least two areas where we had twice as many access points as we needed. We redesigned it and pulled some of those access points where there wasn't any proper planning done when they were initially deployed. It was before my time, but it just seemed over-saturated. Site wasn't helping. It was probably hurting, and we saved equipment that we could then deploy somewhere else. This can be improved.
Updating the iOS and PC versions of the Ekahau Site Survey app, while the Android version lags. They should prioritize enhancing the Android app's capabilities to ensure a seamless experience for users on both Apple and Android devices. Presently, the iOS version outperforms its Android version. Their recent updates show a strong inclination towards Apple or the iOS version. The advantage is that you can start a survey inside a building without having the floor plans on hand or installed on your device. You can conduct a site survey simply by using your iPad Pro or iPhone Pro. Android devices currently lack this Li-Fi technology.
The inability to add or relocate AP's to existing survey data during the planning phase is a major problem for me. If you relocate an AP, the heatmaps (data) remain unchanged, since it has no no predictive ability. Adding an AP also completely ignores the existing data and displays as if there are no attenuating structures and the AP is sitting in isolation. The only solution is to remain on (or revisit) site and keep redeploying and surveying, which can be problematic if the client changes requirements before the final deployment.
Network Specialist at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Apr 20, 2023
Presently, we can only integrate the solution with Mac OS. It has been costly for us and affects the decision process too. They should provide integration with Windows as well.
Sales Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Mar 20, 2023
I would say that the indoor site accuracy is pretty good but the outdoor one should be improved. I would say if there was a way to put trees in there and canopies, that would be great.
Network Engineer at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Jan 30, 2023
I am having problems importing maps to Ekahau Site Survey. Importing is one of the first steps in using the solution and it is getting stuck. The problem could be that our maps are large with many layers.
I'd like to see the option of an in-app photo application or a way to upload photos while carrying out an active onsite survey. You can obviously use a tablet's camera but it would be helpful to have an automated import of the physical AP in the Ekahau reports. Also, they come out with a lot of updates and it sometimes feels too much. Finally, I'd like to see a function or plugin for Ekahau to pick up on the switches the APs connect to so that you can map out further than just the APs when you do your site survey. It would be great if it could pick up a Mac address of each AP's switches, which would help engineers map out a network topology.
Senior Analyst at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 20
Sep 20, 2022
I wish the solution was better at making different survey modes, like in AirMagnet. When I use AirMagnet, I can go in and say, "I'm doing a survey on a stick," and then it will go into that "survey on a stick" mode and I can just start doing my survey. Ekahau doesn't have that. If you want to do an AP on a stick survey, each time you complete a section, you have to go in and freeze the AP manually in the software. That just seems archaic, considering AirMagnet had that problem solved ten years ago. The worst thing about Ekahau in general is their documentation. Trying to find the answer to what you're looking for is really difficult because they constantly change their verbiage, but they don't constantly update the documents. You'll find documents using old verbiage from old versions and you're like, "No, I'm looking for this..."
Chief Executive Officer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Real User
Top 20
May 29, 2022
When a version goes out of support, sometimes the newer version isn't already available. There should be an option to import, and maybe access points can be added to the other version as well. Most features are there, but the network adapter support should be better. Ekahau should support all laptops and versions. There's an issue with the driver too.
Primary Wireless Project Manager at a government with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Dec 24, 2021
In all of our buildings, whenever we deploy wireless access points, we also have to deploy wireless intrusion detections. The Ekahau Site Survey tool doesn't allow us to differentiate between the access point and the intrusion detection device. That's because they're the same devices, but they're configured differently for the type of usage. That's one area that I would ask them to improve. They should allow the identification of access points versus wireless intrusion detection. It is somewhat expensive to renew the licenses every year. Obviously, most places can't maintain that. You would think that if you're not using the software any differently than you were from day one, then the license that you initially purchased would be good from that point forward, but it is not like that.
Converged Services Project Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Mar 19, 2021
Sometimes there is a cancellation between two signals that the solution is not able to monitor correctly, this could improve in the future. I believe there is some kind of scattering happening preventing the solution from detecting the two signals correctly. In a future release, I would like to see integration with wifi controllers, such as Aruba controllers.
I find the power button hard to access with just one hand. It really needs one hand to hold the device while the other pushes the button. It would also be improved if other mounting options besides the strap were available. Also, the strap should be easy release.
The coverage patterns / strengths built into the inventory of APs in Ekahau is overly optimistic or too generous. This is not the fault of Ekahau - it is the fault of the various vendors that produce the antenna patterns they use. We tested several models of Cisco and Ubiquiti devices in open areas and found that reality versus the Ekahau predictive values were different. In reality, they did not cover as far and as strong as Ekahau’s inventory would suggest. Again - not the fault of Ekahau. This is an issue with the data being supplied to them by the various vendors. This can lead to a bad design when using a predictive survey. Our testing was conducted on an open field with no major source of RF interference in the area. The product is still very valuable when used by someone with enough experience in the field to know when something doesn't seem right. Someone that can make adjustments to the design based on reality.
Ekahau AI Pro optimizes Wi-Fi network planning, design, and analysis with advanced tools that include heat maps, spectrum analysis, and data-driven insights, ensuring efficient deployment and management.Ekahau AI Pro offers comprehensive solutions for Wi-Fi site assessment, integrating cutting-edge analysis tools. With features like heat mapping, RF interference examination, and dual-band spectrum analysis, it aids in precise access point placement and performs predictive surveys for...
Ekahau could be improved by adding three-dimensional modeling, as we currently cannot view APIs in a three-dimensional perspective. They need to include backhaul features and improve the ease of integration with existing systems.
It took me over a week to fine-tune the reports, but they became impossible to use. That’s one of the reasons we started looking at Hemina. I’ve been using Ekahau for quite some time, and when the Sidekick 2 was released, packet analysis wasn’t supported, even though it was included in my subscription. I contacted them for over a year about this issue since packet analysis is essential for my work, but I didn’t receive a response. When I requested support, I was banned from their communications, no invitations for Wi-Fi Day or webinars. If that’s how they treat their partners, it’s clear that our relationship has to change. I'm renewing my subscription for the last year, but I’m not willing to pay two thousand euros anymore. If they can make me a reasonable offer and provide a discount. The customer experience has been poor. I called my distributor, who checked and confirmed that everything was functioning. To troubleshoot, I created a new account under a different name and received an invitation. When I tried registering with my original account, I was blocked because I had contacted customer support about my issues. You can use different software; Ekahau is an option, but look at how they treat their customers.' On the other hand, there’s Hemina. They don’t have spectrum analysis yet, but it’s coming. Technically, the Sidekick is still one of the best devices for checking Wi-Fi. However, there are alternative solutions, and you receive support with those alternatives. For me, the support issue is a significant concern.
The only issue is the price. The overall price is a bit high, especially compared to our other vendor. Ekahau is considered expensive.
Ekahau needs to enhance the view of materials and make some adjustments to the reports. Currently, it's possible to make changes to the Word report using Python, but it could be improved. For example, when I create an AP on a survey report, information like the cable view, distance, and support assessments could be enhanced. Only one comment about Ekahau Optimizer. It needs improvement. I tried to upload site products, and for five products, I needed to involve Ekahau's supply chain. When I try to solve that, it's not possible. For example, I uploaded one product for a large bank, and the optimizer didn't finish. I needed to involve Ekahau support, and they sent me the file two or three days after I opened the case.
We were able to recover some access points in some areas that were over-saturated. There were at least two areas where we had twice as many access points as we needed. We redesigned it and pulled some of those access points where there wasn't any proper planning done when they were initially deployed. It was before my time, but it just seemed over-saturated. Site wasn't helping. It was probably hurting, and we saved equipment that we could then deploy somewhere else. This can be improved.
Updating the iOS and PC versions of the Ekahau Site Survey app, while the Android version lags. They should prioritize enhancing the Android app's capabilities to ensure a seamless experience for users on both Apple and Android devices. Presently, the iOS version outperforms its Android version. Their recent updates show a strong inclination towards Apple or the iOS version. The advantage is that you can start a survey inside a building without having the floor plans on hand or installed on your device. You can conduct a site survey simply by using your iPad Pro or iPhone Pro. Android devices currently lack this Li-Fi technology.
The inability to add or relocate AP's to existing survey data during the planning phase is a major problem for me. If you relocate an AP, the heatmaps (data) remain unchanged, since it has no no predictive ability. Adding an AP also completely ignores the existing data and displays as if there are no attenuating structures and the AP is sitting in isolation. The only solution is to remain on (or revisit) site and keep redeploying and surveying, which can be problematic if the client changes requirements before the final deployment.
I wish there were a competitor to keep Ekahau Site Survey's pricing in line, but there's none.
Ekahau Site Survey is an expensive solution, and its pricing should be improved.
The information regarding the clients and signal strengths is missing in the Ekahau console.
Presently, we can only integrate the solution with Mac OS. It has been costly for us and affects the decision process too. They should provide integration with Windows as well.
I would say that the indoor site accuracy is pretty good but the outdoor one should be improved. I would say if there was a way to put trees in there and canopies, that would be great.
The report generation has room for improvement and is missing small details.
I am having problems importing maps to Ekahau Site Survey. Importing is one of the first steps in using the solution and it is getting stuck. The problem could be that our maps are large with many layers.
Ekahau would benefit by making improvements to lag time. Whenever we are performing an active survey, there is a lag with the survey.
I'd like to see the option of an in-app photo application or a way to upload photos while carrying out an active onsite survey. You can obviously use a tablet's camera but it would be helpful to have an automated import of the physical AP in the Ekahau reports. Also, they come out with a lot of updates and it sometimes feels too much. Finally, I'd like to see a function or plugin for Ekahau to pick up on the switches the APs connect to so that you can map out further than just the APs when you do your site survey. It would be great if it could pick up a Mac address of each AP's switches, which would help engineers map out a network topology.
I wish the solution was better at making different survey modes, like in AirMagnet. When I use AirMagnet, I can go in and say, "I'm doing a survey on a stick," and then it will go into that "survey on a stick" mode and I can just start doing my survey. Ekahau doesn't have that. If you want to do an AP on a stick survey, each time you complete a section, you have to go in and freeze the AP manually in the software. That just seems archaic, considering AirMagnet had that problem solved ten years ago. The worst thing about Ekahau in general is their documentation. Trying to find the answer to what you're looking for is really difficult because they constantly change their verbiage, but they don't constantly update the documents. You'll find documents using old verbiage from old versions and you're like, "No, I'm looking for this..."
When a version goes out of support, sometimes the newer version isn't already available. There should be an option to import, and maybe access points can be added to the other version as well. Most features are there, but the network adapter support should be better. Ekahau should support all laptops and versions. There's an issue with the driver too.
In all of our buildings, whenever we deploy wireless access points, we also have to deploy wireless intrusion detections. The Ekahau Site Survey tool doesn't allow us to differentiate between the access point and the intrusion detection device. That's because they're the same devices, but they're configured differently for the type of usage. That's one area that I would ask them to improve. They should allow the identification of access points versus wireless intrusion detection. It is somewhat expensive to renew the licenses every year. Obviously, most places can't maintain that. You would think that if you're not using the software any differently than you were from day one, then the license that you initially purchased would be good from that point forward, but it is not like that.
It is a little bit more expensive than other solutions. Our CTO was not real happy with their support.
Sometimes there is a cancellation between two signals that the solution is not able to monitor correctly, this could improve in the future. I believe there is some kind of scattering happening preventing the solution from detecting the two signals correctly. In a future release, I would like to see integration with wifi controllers, such as Aruba controllers.
The support is an area in need of improvement. In the next release, I would like to see a legend that shows the capacities.
I find the power button hard to access with just one hand. It really needs one hand to hold the device while the other pushes the button. It would also be improved if other mounting options besides the strap were available. Also, the strap should be easy release.
The coverage patterns / strengths built into the inventory of APs in Ekahau is overly optimistic or too generous. This is not the fault of Ekahau - it is the fault of the various vendors that produce the antenna patterns they use. We tested several models of Cisco and Ubiquiti devices in open areas and found that reality versus the Ekahau predictive values were different. In reality, they did not cover as far and as strong as Ekahau’s inventory would suggest. Again - not the fault of Ekahau. This is an issue with the data being supplied to them by the various vendors. This can lead to a bad design when using a predictive survey. Our testing was conducted on an open field with no major source of RF interference in the area. The product is still very valuable when used by someone with enough experience in the field to know when something doesn't seem right. Someone that can make adjustments to the design based on reality.